Boston Bulletin: Young contender for Sen. Wilkerson's seat returns

Chang-Diaz for activism, new leadership

By Joseph Mont | May 22, 2008

Sonia Chang-Diaz, a self-described "progressive Democrat for State Senate," officially kicked off her second campaign for the Second Suffolk senatorial seat last weekend.

Diaz, 29, of Jamaica Plain, is looking to unseat 14-year incumbent Democrat Dianne Wilkerson.

"Change is possible," Chang-Diaz said. "El cambio es possible. But creating that change will require discipline, creativity and a public sector that inspires confidence and investment by its citizens."

Chang-Diaz, a former teacher, State House aide and current political activist, ran for the State Senate two years ago, challenging incumbent Dianne Wilkerson with a sticker campaign launched after ballots had been printed.

Her campaign was launched after Wilkerson initially failed to secure the 300 signatures needed to be placed on the ballot. Wilkerson went on to prevail in her own sticker campaign.

"We need leaders we can count on to get us there - leaders that represent our shared progressive values and uphold high standards of ethics and accountability in order to inspire that confidence," Chang Diaz said. "I'm running for State Senate to be that leader. I'm running for state Senate because I know that with a steadfast dedication to progressive values and to accountability, our state government can do better for this district."

It's a campaign platform that echoes her last run for Wilkerson's chair.

"Two years ago, we stood up together in our call for new leadership," Chang-Diaz said to supporters last Sunday. "We had a small budget and a short campaign season. But we marched through this district, talked to voters at their front doors and in their living rooms and earned votes one at a time. And we nearly won. We nearly defeated a 14-year incumbent. That happened because of you. You put your muscle and your money behind a candidate without name recognition or organizational endorsement."

"There are serious challenges facing our community today," Chang-Diaz continued. "Young people shooting each other, sometimes in the full light of day, because we've failed to equip them with other ways to build self-respect; public schools faltering under the weight of under-investment and low expectations; economic development that isn't reaching the people who need it most; healthcare costs that keep going up and up; and housing that's unaffordable for working families."

The Second Suffolk district includes portions of Mattapan, Dorchester, Roxbury, Mission Hill, the Fenway, Jamaica Plain, Beacon Hill, the Back Bay, the South End, and Chinatown.

Wilkerson said she is "looking forward to engaging in a lively discussion about the issues facing the Second Suffolk District," regarding Diaz's run. "I feel confident my work will speak for itself," she said.

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